All posts tagged photography

We have new photography on our walls for the month of august by local artist Elysse Bujold! Elysse explores abstract photography, capturing natural elements with the use of mirrors and light. Come down to the Streaming Cafe to see her work in person!

“Elysse is a photographer who resides in the beautiful Okanagan valley. Originally born and raised in Guelph, Ontario, she moved to British Columbia when she was eighteen to further her artistic passions and abilities. After struggling through many different mediums, she finally found her niche in abstract photography. Elysse works with mirrors, and natural water resources to produce images that are affected by the movement of water, which continuously alters the image and model. With each image, the state of the water changes aspects of the human form. It may elongate limbs, blur faces, remove aspects of the model’s form altogether, and even make them completely unrecognizable. Her love of abstract photography, black and white imagery, and the use of light and water together are all important aspects to her photo based creations. She has made Kelowna her home and plans on staying in BC to further her education as well as her artist practice.”

The Streaming Cafe has new photography on our walls for the month of April by Nils Loewen! Come to the cafe to see his photos in person.

‘Cloudscapes’ by Nils Loewen

“There is always more than the eye or the camera can see. Through layered exposures and digital manipulation, unseen colours and depth emerge to reflect reality – that there is always more than we can see.

Nils moved from Winnipeg to the Okanagan in 2012 to play cello in the duo ‘Windborn’. He is now involved in the musical and artistic community of Kelowna as much as possible between extensive touring and summers spent treeplanting.”

The Streaming Cafe is pleased to have the artwork of Mahla Shapiro up on the walls for the month of February!

Mahla Shapiro is currently a Vancouver based artist, and her series ‘Po V’Sham(Here and There)’ explores the ‘polarization of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem’. Shapiro‘s work will be up until the end of February, and all work is available for purchase.

Po V’Sham (Here and There)

“Mahla has followed her dreams and come from Toronto to the West Coast to live and work as an artist. She completed her BFA at Emily Carr University of Art and Design, and furthered her Art Education at the Ontario College of Art and Design and New York’s School of Visual Art. From there her inspiration let loose, and she began creating, striking a balance between work and play in her studio.

Her Print Making, Painting, and Photography has taken her around the world. Completing Visual Art Residencies in both New York and Ireland, Mahla has had the good fortune of pursuing her dreams and showing her work both across Canada and internationally. Her work is published, and she has several pieces in permanent collections including Berlin and at the Charles H. Scott Gallery and Truth and Beauty Gallery in Vancouver.

Currently, Mahla pursues her work in a studio practice at Malaspina on Granville Island, while working as an Art Teacher in West Vancouver. She also works as an Artist in Residence in classrooms across The Lower Mainland through Art Starts, a BC initiative to bring professional artists into the classroom in all grades.

In this exhibition, Po V’Sham (Here and There), Shapiro depicts the polarization between two large city centers in Israel; a place very dear to her heart. The contrast between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv is stark. Politically, socially, economically, religiously and historically, the cities are worlds apart. Tel Aviv is a coastal, secular, pluralistic city with a Western outlook, which thrives off of the successes of Israel’s high tech sector. In contrast, Jerusalem is the Holiest city on Earth, steeped in ancient history, where Jewish tradition is outwardly celebrated in daily life.

Having lived and studied religion, language and philosophy for a year in Jerusalem, Shapiro has just returned from another visit to the Holy Land, capturing moments in time that bring insight and an intangible tactility into a foreign land and unique cultures.”

The Streaming Cafe is pleased to have the photography of Andrew Lipsett up on the walls for the month of December! We invite you to join us for an art reception on December 11th at the Streaming Cafe to meet the artist and view his work!

“Ever since Andrew Lipsett was a small child he loved photos. Seeing the process of family portraits being taken, the documenting of vacations, and pictures being taken around the house. Then the next step, with the film being sent away. The excitement of opening the envelope when the processed film arrived back to see the slides, if his father had taken them, or prints if his mother had taken them! At that point his mother would add to the photo album, or if that one was too full, make a new photo album. Andrew loved going through those photos then as much as he does today, decades later. His life and families life documented in 1/250 of second increments, photos that trigger memories, photos that never fade like memories can. Each one has a story, not just documenting a moment, but documenting a day or a month, perhaps a vacation or a wedding, a family event or a new home. The whole thing in one or two pictures! Amazing!

Andrew still remembers buying his first “126” camera for $12 when he was 14 and then buying his first 35 mm camera one day after his 16th birthday. He subscribed to two photo magazines so he could learn how to improve his skills and then proceeded to take a LOT of landscape, family portraits and general scenery pictures! Weddings of family friends and then personal friends provided a great opportunity to expand creatively.

Andrew loves capturing the moment in time, the essence of a person during a portrait session or candid moments during a wedding. Freezing perfect light coming through the window of a home, or landscapes with a vineyard being lit by the early morning sun or the setting sun over the lakes of the Okanagan. The technical side of a commercial shoot, and the imagination to create an emotional link between the viewer and the product. ”

The Streaming Cafe is excited to have the photography of Hanss Lujan on our walls for the remainder of September! Hanss Lujan has recently returned from traveling in Peru where he explored his cultural roots and spiritual heritage.

“Ukukus: Hungry Earth, Vengeful Stars”

Hanss Lujan is a wanderer within his own culture. During a 2-month trip back home to Peru, he took part in several ceremonial festivals and pilgrimages; it was then that he encountered the Ukukus.

The Ukuku plays a pivotal role in the reciprocity and nurturance of spirituality of the Cusco Region of Peru. In Andean mythology, the Ukuku personifies mediation between the underworld and the present world. His persona is informed by the dualities of the universe.

According to the myth, they are the offspring of a mountain bear and a peasant woman. This duality gives them a strong perspective of both the natural world and the human one, however it also limits them. This half man, half beast is not civilized enough to live amongst the humans and not wild enough to join the animal packs. He is seen as a mediator between two worlds

The Ukukus are performers as well as supervisors of the ceremonies. They command and maintain the order of the festivals. However the Ukuku himself is a genuine prankster who innocently plays in the fiesta, joining the dances and games played during the festival. This marks him as the mediator between order and disorder.

This exhibition documents their performances and ceremonies throughout the festival of Qoyllur Rit’i in the Sinkara Valley and the festival of the Virgen del Carmen in Paucartambo.

Hanss Lujan is a 23-year-old artist from Cusco, Peru. He recently graduated from the University of British Columbia, Okanagan with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Arts and a Minor in Art History and Visual Culture. His research topics include Andean spirituality, transcendence and the exploration of memory.

Feel free to contact the artist regarding inquiries on any of the photos presented.

We are very excited to have the work of Jackie Poirier on display in the cafe for the month of July. Jackie’s photographs explore the intricacies and imperfections of architecture in a dichromatic palette.

Jackie Poirier is a graduate of Fine Arts and Education from the University of Lethbridge, Alberta. Here, she trained in a wide variety of media and found her love for photography and graphic design. The University’s unique program prepared her to teach from Kindergarten to Grade 12 and led her to follow her passion for teaching young emerging artists in the Okanagan. She has been teaching Visual and Graphic Arts at the senior secondary level since the Fall of 2008. Teaching Art has not only allowed her to share her love for the arts with her students, but it has consistently fueled her own learning, creativity, and has inspired her to continue on her path as an active artist today.

Currently, Jackie is exploring the effects of time on modern urban existence. Perceiving a city as an amalgamation of layers allows us to see its harmonious diversity, as well as, its beautiful imperfections. Juxtapositions of the old and the new; organic and mechanical forms; and grungy textures with clean lines are recurring themes among many of her works.

Limited edition prints are available for all works, framed or unframed. Commissions welcome. Private and group lessons available. Please feel free to contact me via phone, email, or drop by heART school Kelowna for inquiries.

NIKKI BALFOURNikki Balfour is a BC artist who has been dedicated to painting since 2005. For Nikki, painting is not simply an exploration of light and colour; but an expression of freedom. Consequently, the years have been filled with the many challenges, discoveries, and joys of constant growth. Emotions and words are a continual source of inspiration and these often find their way into the freestyle and abstract techniques that have been a large part of her development as an artist. Nikki is passionate about exploring new subjects and is refreshed by discovering new creative outlets whether she is working in her home studio or painting onstage with live music.
In addition to numerous independent shows and events, Nikki has been involved in various group exhibitions in the Okanagan Valley. Including; Art Walk (2007-2011), Lake Country Art Gallery, Vernon Art Gallery and Sopa Fine Arts Gallery. Nikki also has a private permanent collection of her work at Kelowna’s Bo.ttega Farm Inn.

LEANNE SPANZALeanne Spanza is a Lake Country based artist who has lived in the Okanagan since 2006 and was raised in North Vancouver, BC. She has been extensively exhibiting her work professionally since 2010 and has been painting in her signature style for the past ten years. She focuses on simple lines and bold colours to capture British Columbia’s mountains, valleys, lakes and coastlines.
In July 2011 she was one of six BC artists selected by Park Canada to tour the back country and capture Glacier National Park for its 125th Anniversary. In January 2012, Therapy Vineyards in Naramata featured her painting ‘Okanagan Hills’ on their Artist Series wine label. Leanne had her first solo exhibition at the Gibsons Public Art Gallery in April 2012 and will host a second solo exhibition at the Port Alberni Art Gallery in June 2013. Her paintings are currently represented at M Gallery in Penticton and ArtFirst Gallery in Revelstoke.

JOHN VAN DER WOUDEJohn van der Woude is a photographic artist who initially studied art and design at Camosun College in Victoria, BC and received a BFA (Interdisciplinary) degree from NSCAD University in Halifax, NS in 2007. John has been an active member in the Kelowna art community since moving here over 2 years ago from Montreal, including being on the Board of Directors at the Alternator Centre for Contemporary Art in the Rotary Art Centre.
John uses photography as his chosen medium because of the inherent and continuous investigation that happens in photographic images between reality and fiction. Any photograph is assumed to be a true representation of what is being pictured, but a photograph also eliminates all the context that happens outside the frame and can distort what is being seen. This is especially in the age of digital manipulation. A photographer makes just as many choices in composing a piece of artwork as a painter or sculptor.
John’s work has shown in numerous galleries across the country and has work in both private and public collections, including the Beaverbrook Art Gallery in Fredericton, NB. John also works at and runs his own visual and graphic design business.

Streaming Cafe is proud to announce a Three Day Showcase of Art, Music, and Coffee Culture: a celebration of creative community in KelownaApril 18-20, 2013. The three day event will feature community driven events, live music, & visual arts.

Where entrepreneurial minds come together to solve problems with creativity.
more info @ Facebook Event

Meeple Board Game Night 6:30pm Free!

Launching a monthly marathon of minds-port mania. An evening of board game play.
Be sure to follow along on Twitter with #GameNightKL
more info @Facebook Event

FRIDAY, APRIL 19Visual Art Spotlight 6:00pm Free!

Streaming Cafe will be transformed into a gallery setting complete with a featured wine, craft beef and live DJ Rich Taylor. The spotlight will feature three dynamic visual artists who have previously displayed works at Streaming Cafe.

Prairie Dance Club’s music has been described as Sonic Canadiana. This Langley quartet’s unique blend of alternative folk rock is grounded in timeless melody and has steadily been winning over listeners since the band’s formation in the fall of 2007. The band has had their music in TV shows such as America’s Next Top Model and MTV’S 16 and Pregnant. Their song “Spring” was also featured in the PBS series Road Trip Nation. They were also a top ten finalist in the Shore 104.3′s Song Search competition for 2011.

Recently JJ was the recipient of Rawlco Radio’s 10k20 Grant Program in his hometown of Calgary, Alberta. Following the grant, he recorded his first full length album which will be released April 17th, 2012. Recorded at Five Acres Studios in Aldergrove, B.C. with the help of producer Ryan Mcallister (Dakona, Cowboys and Indians, Maverick Records), the album showcases heartfelt moments full of life experience, right alongside bursts of boisterous feel-good rock and roll.

Raquel WarcholSinger-songwriter Raquel Warchol hails from Vernon, B.C. and is a talented up-and-coming artist with a panache for the guitar. At just 19 years old, Raquel is ready to share her music. She recently recorded four new songs in Nashville with two-time Grammy winner Chad Carlson and will be back in the studio this month (January 2013) to record additional songs. “I love to perform and am excited to play the new tunes live for music lovers at Canadian music festivals and various shows coming up in the new year.”